Magnetic recorder/reproducer

ABSTRACT

A magnetic recorder/reproducer converts two-channel analog signals into digital signals by a sample-and-hold/A-D converter circuit (3) and controls addresses in a memory circuit (4) by a memory address control circuit (5), to distribute the digital signals into odd sample groups and even sample groups per each channel for arraying the odd sample groups and the even sample groups of the same channel in alternate scanning intervals, thereby to write the same in the memory circuit so that the odd samples and the even samples of the same channel are arrayed in positions separated from each other along the direction of scanning by rotary heads (10, 11). The digital signals thus permutated are modulated by a modulation circuit (7), to be recorded in a magnetic tape by the rotary heads. The digital signals reproduced by the rotary heads are demodulated by a demodulation circuit (14), to be stored in a memory circuit (15). A memory address control circuit (16) controls addresses so as to permutate samples of the reproduced digital signals stored in the memory circuit to be in the original array thereof. The reproduced digital signals read from the memory circuit are converted into analog signals by a D-A converter (18), to be outputted through a low-pass filter (19).

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/941,012, now U.S. Pat.No. 5,233,480 filed Sep. 4, 1992; which is a continuation of applicationSer. No. 07/732,020, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,146,370, filed Jul. 18, 1991;which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/619,625, now U.S.Pat. No. 5,113,293, filed Nov. 29, 1990; which is a continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 07/486,499, filed Feb. 27, 1990, now abandoned;which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/214,275, now U.S.Pat. No. 4,905,100, filed Jun. 30, 1988; which is a continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 07/019,612, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,835,627, filed Feb.27, 1987; which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 06/696,051,now U.S. Pat. No. 4,675,754, filed Jan. 29, 1985.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a magnetic recorder/reproducer. Morespecifically, it relates to a magnetic recorder/reproducer having rotaryheads for slantingly or vertically scanning the same by the rotary headsthereby recording digital signals in a magnetic tape and reproducing thesame, and particularly to an improvement in interleaving of the datathereof.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Heretofore well known in the art is a rotary head-type PCM magneticrecorder/reproducer which converts audio signals into digital signalsfor recording the digital signals in a magnetic tape and reproducing therecorded digital signals. In general, a rotary head-type PCM magneticrecorder/reproducer employs error correction codes for correcting errorscaused in the data upon recording/reproducing of the magnetic tape.

The error correction codes are adapted to correct the errors caused inthe data following recording/reproducing of the magnetic tape thereby toreproduce high definition audio signals. However, when the number of theerrors is beyond the correction ability to disable the error correction,compensation must be performed by means such as interpolation by takingthe mean value of adjacent data. Further, most of the errors caused onthe magnetic tapes are burst errors, and hence the erroneous data aredispersed by interleaving processing for improving the ability of theerror correction codes.

As hereinabove described, compensation processing is performed when theerrors cannot be corrected, and mean value interpolation is employed asan effective compensation process with simple circuit structure. Suchmean value interpolation is performed on condition that the adjacentdata are correct.

Therefore, data of odd sample groups are separated as far as possiblefrom those of even sample groups when the interleaving operation isperformed.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show magnetization patterns recorded on a magnetic tape bya conventional rotary head-type PCM magnetic recorder/reproducer.

The following description is made of a rotary head-type PCM magneticrecorder/reproducer of a two-head helical scanning system, which istaken as a typical example.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, a magnetic tape T travels in the direction indicatedby an arrow D and is scanned by rotary heads in the direction indicatedby an arrow S. The data recorded in the magnetic tape T are of twochannels A and B, and distributed into even sample groups a and oddsample groups b. For example, symbol a with symbol A+B indicates evensample groups of the channels A and B, and symbol Aa indicates an evensample group of the channel A.

The volume of interleaving is generally determined in consideration ofburst length of errors and correction ability of error correction codes,and an even sample group a and an odd sample group b may be in line overa scanning interval as shown in FIG. 1 or to the contrary.

FIG. 2 shows the even sample groups a and the odd sample groups barrayed in equally divided scanning intervals. In the interleavingoperation performed in this manner, errors are caused in continuous datawhen one of the rotary heads is instantaneously silted by magneticpowder coming off from the magnetic tape T, i.e., when the reproducedsignals from one of the rotary heads are interrupted. Thus, it has beenimpossible to perform the mean value interpolation, which causes harshnoise.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an essential object of the present invention is to providea magnetic recorder/reproducer which can reduce noise caused by a siltedrotary head and by errors in the tape travelling direction over acertain width along the cross direction of a magnetic tape.

A further object is to provide a magnetic tape wherein data is recordedin a plurality of tracks in a predetermined pattern.

In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a magneticrecorder/reproducer which performs a coding operation so that errorcorrection codes are completed in one scanning interval and effectivelyreproduces signals even if a rotary head is silted or a burst error iscaused in the tape travelling direction over a certain width, thereby toprevent an increase in the clock rate required for error correction.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided a magnetic tape onwhich data is recorded in a plurality of tracks in accordance withpredetermined pattern.

In summary, the present invention converts analog signals of a pluralityof channels into digital signals to distribute the digital signals ofthe plurality of channels into odd sample groups and even sample groupsper each channel, and permutates the sample groups so that the oddsample groups and the even sample groups of the same channel arerecorded in alternate scanning intervals in positions separated alongthe direction of scanning thereby to record the permutated odd samplegroups and the even sample groups of the respective channels in amagnetic recording medium by magnetic heads.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the signals may bereadily corrected even if reproduced signals from one head areinterrupted by, e.g., instantaneous silting of the head caused bymagnetic powder coming off from the magnetic tape of by a burst errorcaused in the tape travelling direction over a wide range along thecross direction of the tape, whereby the signal-to-noise ratio ofreproduced sounds or images can be improved. Further, excellentreproduced sounds and images can be obtained by properly selectingsamples from the respective groups.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, even sample groupsof a first channel and odd samples group of a second channel are arrayedin the same scanning intervals while odd sample groups of the firstchannel and even sample groups of the second channel are arrayed inscanning intervals adjacent to the said same scanning intervals, suchthat the odd sample groups and the even sample groups of the firstchannel are recorded in positions separated from each other along thedirection of scanning. Or, the even sample groups of the first channeland the even sample groups of the second channel may be arrayed in thesame scanning intervals while the odd sample groups of the first channeland the odd sample groups of the second channel are arrayed in scanningintervals adjacent to the said same scanning intervals in such a mannerthat the odd sample groups and the even sample groups of the firstchannel are recorded in positions separated along the direction ofscanning.

In a second aspect of the present invention, the respective samplegroups recorded in the magnetic tape in the aforementioned manner arereproduced by magnetic heads to be permutated in order of sample numbersper each channel and outputted to be converted into analog signals.

In a third aspect of the present invention, the permutated odd samplegroup and even sample group of each channel in each scanning intervalare encoded to generate error correction codes, which are arrayed in thescanning interval including information employed for generating theerror correction codes to be recorded.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the error correctioncodes are so generated and arrayed as to be completed with respect tothe data included in one scanning interval, thereby to prevent increasein the clock rate required for encoding and decoding of the data.

The above and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of thepresent invention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription of the present invention when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 are illustrations showing conventional magnetizationpatterns;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are illustrations showing magnetization patterns accordingto an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a roughly illustrated block diagram showing an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 6 is a roughly illustrated block diagram showing a memory addresscontrol circuit as shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an illustration showing respective sample groups stored in amemory circuit as shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 illustrates a magnetization pattern showing frame array recordedin the memory circuit as shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an illustration showing a magnetization pattern according toanother embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a roughly illustrated block diagram showing anotherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a roughly illustrated block diagram showing a memory addresscontrol circuit as shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a timing chart showing operation of the memory circuits asshown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is an illustration showing sample groups stored in the memorycircuit as shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 14 illustrates a magnetization pattern showing frame array recordedby the sample groups as shown in FIG. 13; and

FIG. 15 is an illustration showing a magnetization pattern according tostill another embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 3 is an illustration showing a magnetization pattern recorded on amagnetic tape in an embodiment of the present invention. The principleof the present invention is now described with reference to FIG. 3. In arotary head-type magnetic recorder/reproducer according to the presentinvention, interleaving processing is characterized in that even samplegroups and odd sample groups of the same channel are arrayed inalternate scanning intervals in positions separated from each otheralong the direction of scanning by rotary heads. By virtue of sucharray, at least either the even sample groups or the odd sample groupsof the same channel can necessarily be obtained even if signals in oneof two rotary heads are interrupted by the aforementioned silting, andhence no continuous sample errors are caused. Further, with respect to aburst error caused along the tape travelling direction in a certainwidth from the edge of the magnetic tape, either the even sample groupsor the odd sample groups of the same channel can be obtained to half thewidth of the magnetic tape in the cross direction as shown in FIG. 3,whereby no continuous sample errors are caused in the same channel.

FIG. 4 is an illustration showing another example of the magnetizationpattern. Also in the example as shown in FIG. 4, even sample groups andodd sample groups of the same channel are arrayed in alternate scanningintervals in positions separated from each other along the direction ofscanning, and hence no sample errors are caused by interruption ofsignals similarly to the example as shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a roughly illustrated block diagram showing an embodiment ofthe present invention and FIG. 6 is a roughly illustrated block diagramshowing a memory address control circuit as shown in FIG. 5.

Description is now made on structure of the present embodiment withreference to FIGS. 5 and 6. A rotary head-type PCM magneticrecorder/reproducer consists of a recording system and a reproducingsystem. A two-channel input terminal 1 of an audio recording systemillustrating the invention receives analog audio signals. The analogaudio signals inputted in the input terminal 1 are supplied to alow-pass filter 2 to be band-restricted. Then the analog audio signalspassed through the low-pass filter 2 are inputted to asample-and-hold/A-D converter circuit 3. The sample-and-hold/A-Dconverter circuit 3 converts the analog audio signals into digitalsignals. The digitally converted signals are supplied to a memorycircuit 4 to be stored therein. The memory circuit 4 isaddress-controlled by a memory address control circuit 5.

As shown in FIG. 6, the memory address control circuit 5 is formed by asample writing address generator circuit 501, a coding address generatorcircuit 502, a data reading address generator circuit 503 and a selector504 which receives respective outputs from the sample writing addressgenerator circuit 501, the coding address generator circuit 502 and thedata reading address generator circuit 503 for making selective outputsat an address output terminal 505. A coding circuit 6 is provided inrelation to the memory circuit 4. The coding circuit 6 generates codesfor correcting and detecting errors in the digital signals stored in thememory circuit 4. The digital signals read from the memory circuit 4 aresupplied to a modulation circuit 7 to be modulated by the same. Themodulated digital signals are amplified by a recording amplifier 8, tobe supplied to either a rotary head 10 or 11 which is selected by afirst selection switch 9.

The digital signals reproduced by the rotary heads 10 and 11 areinputted through a second selection switch 12 for selecting the rotaryhead 10 or 11 in a reproducing amplifier 13. The reproducing amplifier13 amplifies the reproduced digital signals to supply the same to ademodulation circuit 14. The demodulation circuit 14 demodulates thereproduced digital signals, to supply the demodulated outputs to amemory circuit 15. The memory circuit 15 is connected with a memoryaddress control circuit 16, which controls addresses of the memorycircuit 15. The memory circuit 15 is further connected, to a decodingcircuit 17. The decoding circuit 17 is adapted to correct and detecterrors in the reproduced digital signals. The reproduced digital signalsread from the memory circuit 15 are supplied to a D-A converter circuit18, to be converted into analog signals. The converted analog signalsare outputted at an output terminal 20 through a low-pass filter 19.

Operation in the recording system is now described. The input terminal 1receives analog audio signals of left and right channels, which arerespectively band-restricted by the low-pass filter 2. The outputs fromthe low-pass filter 2 are supplied to the sample-and-hold/A-D convertercircuit 3, to be converted into digital signals W_(Ln) and W_(Rn).Symbol n represents order of sampling, and the analog signals of theleft and right channels are subsequently sampled to be alternatelyoutputted as digital signals W_(L0), W_(R0), W_(L1), W_(R1), W_(L2),W_(R2), . . . The digital signals W_(Ln) and W_(Rn) are supplied to thememory circuit 4 to be subsequently written in the same with memoryaddresses being controlled by the sample writing address generatorcircuit 501 of the address control circuit 5 provided in relation to thememory circuit 4. The address control operation is hereinafter describedin detail.

The coding circuit 6 provided in relation to the memory circuit 4 readsnecessary samples included in the digital signals stored in the memorycircuit 4 for generating error correction codes and again writing thesame in the memory circuit 4. The digital signals and the errorcorrection codes are subsequently read by the address control circuit 5.The read digital signals are inputted to the modulation circuit 7, to beconverted into signals appropriate for recording in the magnetic tape.The converted signals are amplified by the recording amplifier 8, to berecorded in the magnetic tape by the two rotary heads 10 and 11 throughthe first selection switch 9. The first selection switch 9 is adapted toswitch the circuits to be connected with the rotary heads 10 and 11 inrecording and reproducing of the signals.

Operation in the reproducing system is now described. The reproduceddigital signals read from the two rotary heads 10 and 11 are supplied tothe second selection switch 12 through the first selection switch 9. Thesecond selection switch 12 is adapted to supply the signals read fromthe rotary heads 10 and 11 to the reproducing amplifier 13 assingle-system signals. The reproduced digital signals are amplified bythe reproducing amplifier 13, to be supplied to the demodulation circuit14. The demodulation circuit 14 demodulates the reproduced digitalsignals to those before modulation, to supply the same to the memorycircuit 15. The memory circuit 15 is address-controlled by the memoryaddress control circuit 16, to write the reproduced digital signals. Thedecoding circuit 17 provided in relation to the memory circuit 15 readsnecessary samples from the memory circuit 15 to correct and detecterrors. The corrected samples in the memory circuit 15 are subsequentlyread therefrom by the memory address control circuit 16, to be suppliedto the D-A converter circuit 18. The D-A converter circuit 18 convertsthe digital signals into analog signals, to supply the same to thelow-pass filter 19. The low-pass filter 19 performs band restriction ofthe analog signals, to output the same from the output terminal 20.

A clock generator circuit 21 is adapted to generate clock pulsesrequired for the respective components of the recording and reproducingsystems.

In relation to the memory circuits 4 and 15 as shown in FIG. 5,description is now made of means for performing the aforementioned datainterleaving operation employed in the rotary head-type PCM magneticrecorder/reproducer according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an illustration showing an example of samples stored in thememory circuit as shown in FIG. 5. In FIG. 7, the magnetic heads 10 and11 respectively record 32 samples in the left and right channelsrespectively during an interval for scanning the magnetic tape. Numeralsin the lateral direction indicate column unit memory addresses(hereinafter referred to as "frame addresses") and numerals in thevertical direction indicate row unit memory addresses (hereinafterreferred to as "sample addresses").

In the recording system, the A-D converted and subsequently suppliedsamples W_(L0), W_(R0), W_(L1), W_(R1), . . . are written in the memorycircuit 4 with addresses controlled by the address control circuit 5 tobe in the array as shown in FIG. 6. In other words, the samples aresubsequently written in the memory circuit 4 with sample address beingset at 0 and the frame address being set at 0, 8, 12, 4, . . . When theframe address comes to 7 and the sample W_(R7) is written in the memorycircuit 4, the sample address is updated by 1 so that a given number ofsamples are written in the memory circuit 4 with the frame addressesbeing again controlled. The samples are thus arrayed in the form of amatrix of 4×16, wherein even sample groups and odd sample groups of therespective channels are separated from each other. With respect to thesample matrix thus formed, the coding circuit 6 as shown in FIG. 5performs encoding of the samples read by the coding address generatorcircuit 502 of the memory address control circuit 5, whereas explanationof such encoding operation is omitted since the same is not thesubstance of the present invention. It is to be noted that codes C_(Ln)and C_(Rn) are utilized as error correction codes in the frame of units.

The data reading address generator circuit 503 of the memory addresscontrol circuit 5 subsequently reads the samples from the memory circuit4 in the unit of frames with four vertical samples and one errorcorrection word processed as one frame. In other words, the memoryaddress control circuit 5 sets the frame address at 0 and subsequentlyupdates the sample address as 0, 1, 2, . . . , and when an errorcorrection word is read at the sample address of 4, it updates the frameaddress by 1 to read the samples. The data up to a frame address of 7are arrayed in one scanning interval, and scanning of all the data inthe memory circuit 4 is completed by performing the operation for twoscanning intervals.

The data thus read from the memory circuit 4 are in the magnetizationpattern as shown in FIG. 8 on the magnetic tape, and are arrayed asshown in FIG. 3. In the signals recorded in the aforementioned manner,no continuous error takes place even if a burst error is caused byinterruption of signals in one scanning interval or in the tapetravelling direction in half the width of the magnetic tape from theedge thereof, and hence compensation by mean value interpolation isenabled.

The aforementioned operation for controlling the addresses in writing ofthe samples in the memory circuit 4 may appropriately be changed forobtaining the magnetization pattern as shown in FIG. 4.

As hereinabove described, the present embodiment is characterized inthat even samples and odd samples are permutated in groups and in thatthe samples in the respective groups are recorded in positions separatedalong the scanning direction from those in continuity therewith, asshown in FIG. 8. For example, with respect to a frame l_(L2) including asample W_(L2), frames l_(L1) and l_(L3) including data W_(L1) and W_(L3)which are in continuity with the sample W_(L2) are arrayed in positionsseparated from the frame l_(L2) along the direction of scanning in FIG.8. More specifically, the data W_(L2) and W_(L1) are separated from eachother by a distance X₂, and no continuous sample error is caused due toa burst error in the tape travelling direction in a width smaller thanthe length X₂.

Assuming that α frames are recorded in one scanning interval, thedistance X₂ is found as follows:

    X.sub.2 =(α/2-1)X.sub.1 /α

In practice, 200 to 300 frames are generally recorded in one scanninginterval, and hence X₂ ≃X₁ /2, and hence no continuous sample errortakes place even if an error is caused in the tape travelling directionin about half the width of the magnetic tape. Further, as hereinabovedescribed, no continuous sample error takes place by signal interruptioncaused in one scanning interval, and hence compensation by mean valueinterpolation is enabled.

FIG. 9 is an illustration showing another example of the sample array.Although frame arrangement of the left channel in the sample array asshown in FIG. 9 is different in order from that shown in FIG. 8, asimilar effect can be obtained by such array as a matter of course. Themagnetization pattern as shown in FIG. 9 can be implemented by simplychanging the address control circuits 5 and 16 as shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the presentinvention, and FIG. 11 is a roughly illustrated block diagram of amemory address control circuit as shown in FIG. 10. A rotary head-typePCM magnetic recorder/reproducer as shown in FIG. 10 is substantiallyidentical to that shown in FIG. 5 except that a compensation circuit 22is provided between the memory circuit 15 and the D-A converter circuit18 of the reproducing system and that a memory address control circuit51 is structured as shown in FIG. 11. The compensation circuit 22 isadapted to perform compensation by the aforementioned mean valueinterpolation of samples not corrected though errors are detected.

The memory address control circuit 51 comprises a sample writing addressgenerator circuit 501, a first coding address generator circuit 502, adata reading address generator circuit 503, a second coding addressgenerator circuit 506, a second selector 507 for receiving andselectively outputting the outputs from the first and second codingaddress generator circuits 502 and 506 and a first selector 504 forreceiving the outputs from the sample writing address generator circuit501, the data reading address generator circuit 503 and the secondselector 507 and selectively outputting the same at an address outputterminal 505.

FIG. 12 is a timing chart showing operation of the memory circuits asshown in FIG. 10. In FIG. 12, the rotary head-type PCM magneticrecorder/reproducer performs two-head recording/reproducing operation by90° tape winding, and hence signal recording/reproducing intervals of90° and pause intervals of 90° alternately appear in therecorded/reproduced waveforms as shown in FIG. 12(a). In other words, asignal recording/reproducing interval of 90° corresponds torecording/reproducing operation in one scanning interval. Within signalsfor two scanning intervals sampled in a writing interval WT to thememory circuit 4 as shown in FIG. 12(b), signals for one scanninginterval to be read in a reading interval RD for subsequent reading fromthe memory circuit 4 are encoded in an encoding interval EN to be readin the reading interval RD. Then the signals for the remaining scanninginterval are encoded in the subsequent encoding interval EN, to be readin the reading interval RD.

Shown in FIG. 12(c) is the operation of the memory circuit 15 in areproducing operation. In the writing interval WT, the reproduced samplesignals for one scanning interval are written in the memory circuit 15,and are decoded in a subsequent decoding interval DE to be written inthe memory circuit 15. Then the sample signals for the remainingscanning interval are written in the memory circuit 15 in the subsequentwriting interval WT, to be decoded in the subsequent decoding intervalDE. The decoded samples for two scanning intervals are read in thereading interval RD. In recording operation, the samples supplied asW_(L0), W_(R0), W_(L1), . . . are subjected to memory address control bythe sample writing address generator circuit 501 of the memory addresscontrol circuit 51 and written in the memory circuit 15, to be in thearray as shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 13 is an illustration showing an example of samples stored in thememory circuits as shown in FIG. 10. FIG. 13 is different from FIG. 7 inthat 26 words are stored as error correction codes in addition to 32samples of the left and right channels as data for two scanningintervals.

Operation of another embodiment of the present invention is nowdescribed with reference to FIG. 13. Encoded first are samples l_(L0),l_(L2), l_(L4), l_(L6), l_(R1), l_(R3), l_(R5) and l_(R7) to be recordedin the form of a matrix of 8×4. Then the second coding address generatorcircuit 506 generates error correction codes P₀ to P₄, and thengenerates error correction codes C_(L0), C_(L2), C_(L4), C_(L6), C_(R1),C_(R3), C_(R5) and C_(R7) with respect to samples read by the firstcoding address generator circuits 502. The encoded data of frameaddresses of 0 to 8 are subsequently read in order of frame numbers bythe data reading address generator circuit 503 of the memory addresscontrol circuit 51 in frame units, with a frame P_(o) of the errorcorrection code being read after a frame number 3 to be inserted betweenintervals La and Rb, thereby recorded in the magnetic tape.

After reading of the samples for one scanning interval is completed, thesamples for the remaining scanning interval are similarly encoded to berecorded in the adjacent scanning interval. Although continuous samplesin the respective groups are thus distributed in two scanning intervals,the error correction codes are completed with respect to data for onescanning interval to be recorded in the magnetic tape, and are notextended over two scanning intervals.

In a reproducing operation, the data are written in the memory circuit15 in frame units contrary to the recording operation, are corrected bythe error correction codes and subsequently are read as W_(L0), W_(R0),W_(L1), . . . The error correction codes are completed in one scanninginterval as hereinabove described, and hence the samples can be decodedupon reading of the data for one scanning interval. This operation isidentical to that hereinabove described with reference to FIG. 12, andsince data for two scanning intervals are gathered in codes extendedover two scanning intervals, the data must be decoded with respect totwo scanning intervals in the subsequent decoding interval of 90°.However, the data are decoded per scanning interval in the presentembodiment, and hence the clock rate required for encoding and decodingof the data is not increased by data interleaving for two scanningintervals.

FIG. 14 illustrates the magnetization pattern recorded on the magnetictape by the memory circuit structure as shown in FIG. 13. In FIG. 14,symbol X₁ indicates the width of the magnetic tape and symbol X₂indicates the width of the burst error capable of compensation by meanvalue interpolation. In the example as shown in FIG. 14, readingaddresses in recording operation are so controlled that frames l_(P0)and l_(P5) of error correction codes are located in the middle of onescanning interval, although the frames l_(P0) and l_(P5) may be locatedin any position of the scanning interval.

As hereinabove described, no continuous sample errors are caused in themagnetization pattern as shown in FIG. 14 even if the signals areinterrupted for one scanning interval and a burst error is caused in thetape travelling direction in half the tape width from the edge of themagnetic tape, whereby mean value interpolation is enabled.

FIG. 15 illustrates a magnetization pattern according to still anotherembodiment of the present invention. The magnetization pattern as shownin FIG. 15 is applied to four channels A, B, C and D. Also in the caseof four channels, no continuous sample errors are caused in therespective channels even if the signals are interrupted for one scanninginterval and a burst error is caused in the tape travelling direction inhalf the tape width from the edge of the magnetic tape, whereby meanvalue interpolation is enabled similarly to the case of two channels.

Although each of the above embodiments has been described with respectto a rotary head type PCM magnetic recorder/reproducer which processesaudio signals, the present invention may, needless to say, be applied toa device for processing signals correctable by mean value interpolationsuch as video signals, and further to still other digital signalrecording/reproducing systems different from the above described PCMsystem.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated indetail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustrationand example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spiritand scope of the present invention being limited only by the terms ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A rotary head type magnetic recording apparatusfor recording an ordered input sequence of words represented by digitalsignals successively input in a unit time in a plurality of diagonaltracks on a recording medium, wherein each of said tracks includes afirst region positioned in a longitudinal direction of the track at aformer half thereof relative to a central portion of the track, a secondregion positioned at a latter half of the track relative to the centralportion thereof, and a redundant data region,said first region includinga plurality of m subregions ordered from 0 to m-1 in an arrangementstarting from one edge of the track to the center of the track, saidsecond region including m subregions ordered from 0 to m-1 in anarrangement starting from the center of the track to the other edgethereof, and said redundant data region including redundant data forerror correction or error detection of the digital signals representingwords recorded in said first and second regions on the same track withsaid redundant data, wherein said digital signals are recorded such thata plurality of words are arranged in each said subregion, said magneticrecording apparatus comprising: recording signal processing means forarranging said digital signals input in the unit time to be recorded infirst and second tracks, and for: recording a first word group on thefirst region of said first track, a first word of said first word grouphaving an input order of 0, said first word group including words havingan order of 4n in the input sequence, where n is an integer 0, 1, 2, . .. , or recording a second word group on the first region of said secondtrack, said second word group including words having an order of 4n+1 inthe input sequence, for recording a third word group on the secondregion of said second track, said third word group including wordshaving an order of 4n+2 in the input sequence, and for recording afourth word group on the second region of said first track, said fourthword group including words having an order of 4n+3 in the inputsequence, said recording signal processing means supplying said digitalsignals such that, in each region, words of each said recorded wordgroup are arranged on the 0th to m-1th subregions in a common orderingsequence with respect to the input order thereof, and redundant datagenerating means for generating redundant data for error correction orerror detection of the digital signals representing words to be recordedon the same track with said redundant data.
 2. A rotary head typemagnetic recording apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein each trackof said recording medium includes a central region located substantiallyat a central portion thereof, said central region including at leastpart of said redundant data for error correction or error detection, andwhereinsaid recording signal processing means further operates forrecording at least part of said redundant data on the central region ofthe same track as the words used to generate the redundant data.
 3. Arotary head type magnetic recording apparatus as recited in claim 2,wherein said recording signal processing means includes means forrecording said digital signals representing successively inputted wordsin corresponding ones of said subregions 0, 1, . . . m-1 of successiveones of first through fourth predetermined regions of a pair of tracksin accordance with an order of input of the successively inputted wordsrepresented thereby.
 4. A rotary head type magnetic recording apparatusas recited in claim 3, wherein said means for recording operates torecord digital signals representing a first group of four successiveinputted words of the input order in said subregion 0 of said firstthrough fourth predetermined regions, to record digital signalsrepresenting a second group of four successive inputted words, followingsaid first group of four successive words in the input order, in saidsubregion 1 of said first through fourth predetermined regions, . . .and to record an mth group of four successive inputted words, followingan m-1th group of four successive words in the input order, in saidsubregion m-1 of said first through fourth predetermined regions.
 5. Arotary head type magnetic recording apparatus as recited in claim 4,wherein said means for recording operates to record digital signalsrepresenting an m+1th group of four successive inputted words, followingan mth group of four successive words in the input order, in saidsubregion 0 of said first through fourth regions, to record digitalsignals representing an (m+2)th group of four successive inputted words,following said m+1th group of four successive words in the input order,in said subregion 1 of said first through fourth regions, . . . and torecord a 2mth group of four successive inputted words, following a2m-1th group of four successive inputted words in the input order, insaid subregion m-1 of said first through fourth regions.
 6. A rotaryhead type magnetic recording apparatus as recited in claim 5, whereinsaid means for recording operates to record a plurality of k sampleaddresses 0, 1, . . . , k-1, and for recording subsequent groups of foursuccessive words in a same subregion in subsequent sample addresses ofsaid same subregion of successive ones of said four predeterminedregions.
 7. A rotary head type magnetic recording apparatus as recitedin claim 5, wherein said number of subregions m in each region isdefined by

    m>3,

and said number of sample addresses in each said subregion is defined by

    k≧3.


8. A rotary head type magnetic reproducing apparatus for reproducingdigital signals by scanning diagonal tracks formed on a recordingmedium,each of said tracks including a first region positioned in alongitudinal direction of the track at a former half thereof relative toa central portion of the track, a second region positioned at a latterhalf of the track relative to the central portion thereof, and aredundant data region, said first region including a plurality of msubregions ordered from 0 to m-1 in an arrangement starting from oneedge of the track to the center of the track, said second regionincluding m subregions ordered from 0 to m-1 in an arrangement startingfrom the center of the track to the other edge thereof, and saidredundant data region including redundant data for error correction orerror detection of the digital signals representing words recorded insaid first and second regions on the same track with said redundantdata, wherein a plurality of words are previously recorded in eachsubregion, and signals are outputted from the subregions in a prescribedorder, said rotary head type magnetic reproducing apparatus reproducingdigital signals of a unit time dispersed among respective regions offirst and second tracks, comprising: signal reproducing and processingmeans for receiving as inputs the digital signals reproduced by scanningsaid tracks, for rearranging said reproduced digital signals and foroutputting an ordered output sequence of words using digital signalsreproduced from said first and second tracks as a unit, said signalreproducing and processing means including means for: reproducing afirst word group from the first region of said first track, said firstword group including words having an order of 4n in the output sequence,where n is an integer 0, 1, 2, . . . , a first word of said first wordgroup having an output order of 0; for reproducing a second word groupfrom the first region of said second track, said second word groupincluding words having an order of 4n+1 in the output sequence; forreproducing a third word group from the second region of said secondtrack, said third word group including words having an order of 4n+2 inthe output sequence; and for reproducing a fourth word group from thesecond region of said first track, said fourth word group includingwords having an order of 4n+3 in the output sequence, means forrearranging each of the corresponding words from each of said subregionsin a common rearranging and reordering sequence thereby to output saidwords in said ordered output sequence, and decoding means for correctingerroneous signals from a track of the recording medium in accordancewith the redundant data recorded on the same track therewith.
 9. Arotary head type magnetic reproducing apparatus as recited in claim 8,wherein each track of said recording medium includes a central regionlocated substantially at a central portion thereof, said central regionincluding at least part of said redundant data for error correction orerror detection, and whereinsaid signal reproducing and processing meansincludes redundant data reproducing means for reproducing at least partof said redundant data from the central region of the same track as thewords used to generate the redundant data.
 10. A rotary head typemagnetic reproducing apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein saidrearranging means includes means for reproducing said words of said wordgroups from corresponding ones of said subregions 0, 1, . . . m-1 ofsuccessive ones of first through fourth predetermined regions of a pairof tracks to output said words in said ordered output sequence inaccordance with an order of input of successively inputted wordsrepresented thereby.
 11. A rotary head type magnetic reproducingapparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said means for reproducingoperates for:reproducing words recorded in said subregion 0 of saidfirst through fourth predetermined regions to represent a first group offour successive inputted words; reproducing words recorded in saidsubregion 1 of said first through fourth predetermined regions torepresent a second group of four successive inputted words followingsaid first group of four successive words; . . . and reproducing wordsrecorded in said subregion m-1 of said first through fourthpredetermined regions to represent an mth group of four successiveinputted words following an m-1th group of four successive words.
 12. Arotary head type magnetic reproducing apparatus as recited in claim 11,wherein said means for reproducing operates for:reproducing digitalsignals representing an m+1th group of four successive inputted words,following an mth group of four successive inputted words in the inputorder, from said subregion 0 of said first through fourth predeterminedregions, reproducing digital signals representing an (m+2)th group offour successive inputted words, following said m+1th group of foursuccessive inputted words in the input order, from said subregion 1 ofsaid first through fourth predetermined regions; . . . and forreproducing digital signals representing a 2 m the group of foursuccessive inputted words in the input order, following a 2m-1th groupof four successive inputted words in the input order, from saidsubregion m-1 of said first through fourth predetermined regions.
 13. Arotary head type magnetic reproducing apparatus as recited in claim 12,wherein said means for reproducing operates for:reproducing a pluralityof k sample addresses 0, 1, . . . , k-1; and for reproducing subsequentgroups of four successive words from a same subregion in subsequentsample addresses of said same subregion of successive ones of said fourpredetermined regions.
 14. A rotary head type magnetic reproducingapparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said number of subregions m ineach region is defined by

    m>3,

and said number of sample addresses in each said subregion is defined by

    k≧3.


15. A rotary head type magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus forrecording an ordered input sequence of words represented by digitalsignals successively input in a unit time in a plurality of diagonaltracks on a recording medium and for reproducing digital signals byscanning diagonal tracks formed on a recording medium,wherein each ofsaid tracks includes a first region positioned in a longitudinaldirection of the track at a former half thereof relative to a centralportion of the track, a second region positioned at a latter half of thetrack relative to the central portion thereof, and a redundant dataregion, said first region including a plurality of m subregions orderedfrom 0 to m-1 in an arrangement starting from one edge of the track tothe center of the track, said second region including m subregionsordered from 0 to m-1 in an arrangement starting from the center of thetrack to the other edge thereof, and said redundant data regionincluding redundant data for error correction or error detection of thedigital signals representing words recorded in said first and secondregions on the same track with said redundant data, wherein said digitalsignals are recorded such that a plurality of words are arranged in eachsaid subregion, said magnetic recording apparatus comprising: recordingsignal processing means for arranging said digital signals input in theunit time to be recorded in first and second tracks, and for: recordinga first word group on the first region of said first track, a first wordof said first word group having an input order of 0, said first wordgroup including words having an order of 4n in the input sequence, wheren is an integer 0, 1, 2, . . . , for recording a second word group onthe first region of said second track, said second word group includingwords having an order of 4n+1 in the input sequence, for recording athird word group on the second region of said second track, said thirdword group including words having an order of 4n+2 in the inputsequence, and for recording a fourth word group on the second region ofsaid first track, said fourth word group including words having an orderof 4n+3 in the input sequence, said recording signal processing meanssupplying said digital signals such that, in each region, words of eachsaid recorded word group are arranged on the 0th to m-1th subregions ina common ordering sequence with respect to the input order thereof, andredundant data generating means for generating redundant data for errorcorrection or error detection of the digital signals representing wordsto be recorded on the same track with said redundant data.
 16. A rotaryhead type magnetic recording apparatus as recited in claim 15, whereineach track of said recording medium includes a central region locatedsubstantially at a central portion thereof, said central regionincluding at least part of said redundant data for error correction orerror detection, and whereinsaid recording signal processing meansfurther operates for recording at least part of said redundant data onthe central region of the same track as the words used to generate theredundant data.
 17. A rotary head type magnetic recording andreproducing apparatus as recited in claim 15, further comprising signalreproducing and processing means for receiving the digital signalsreproduced by scanning said tracks as inputs, for rearranging saiddigital signals and for outputting an ordered output sequence of wordsusing digital signals of said first and second tracks as a unit,saidsignal reproducing and processing means including means for: reproducinga first word group from the first region of said first track, said firstword group including words having an order of 4n in the output sequence,where n is an integer 0, 1, 2, . . . , a first word of said first wordgroup having an output order of 0; for reproducing a second word groupfrom the first region of said second track, said second word groupincluding words having an order of 4n+1 in the output sequence; forreproducing a third word group from the second region of said secondtrack, said third word group including words having an order of 4n+2 inthe output sequence; and for reproducing a fourth word group from thesecond region of said first track, said fourth word group includingwords having an order of 4n+3 in the output sequence; and means forrearranging each of the corresponding words from each of said subregionsin a common rearranging and reordering sequence thereby to output saidwords in said ordered output sequence, and redundant data detectingmeans for reproducing redundant data recorded on a track of saidrecording medium for error correction or error detection of digitalsignals representing words recorded on the same track with saidredundant data.
 18. A rotary head type magnetic reproducing apparatus asrecited in claim 17, further comprising decoding means for correctingerroneous signals from a track of the recording medium in accordancewith the redundant data recorded on the same track therewith.
 19. Arotary head type magnetic reproducing apparatus as recited in claim 17,wherein each track of said recording medium includes a central regionlocated substantially at a central portion thereof, said central regionincluding at least part of said redundant data for error correction orerror detection, and whereinsaid signal reproducing and processing meansincludes redundant data reproducing means for reproducing at least partof said redundant data from the central region of the same track as thewords used to generate the redundant data.
 20. A rotary head typemagnetic recording and reproducing apparatus as recited in claim 19,wherein said rearranging means includes means for reproducing said wordsof said word groups from corresponding ones of said subregions 0, 1, . .. m-1 of successive ones of first through fourth predetermined regionsof a pair of tracks to output said words in said ordered output sequencein accordance with an order of input of successively inputted wordsrepresented thereby.
 21. A rotary head type magnetic recording andreproducing apparatus as recited in claim 20, wherein said means forreproducing operates for:reproducing words recorded in said subregion 0of said first through fourth predetermined regions to represent a firstgroup of four successive inputted words; reproducing words recorded insaid subregion 1 of said first through fourth predetermined regions torepresent a second group of four successive inputted words followingsaid first group of four successive words; . . . and reproducing wordsrecorded in said subregion m-1 of said first through fourthpredetermined regions to represent an mth group of four successiveinputted words following an m-1th group of four successive words.
 22. Arotary head type magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus as recitedin claim 21, wherein said means for reproducing operates for:reproducingdigital signals representing an m+1th group of four successive inputtedwords, following an mth group of four successive inputted words in theinput order, from said subregion 0 of said first through fourthpredetermined regions, reproducing digital signals representing an(m+2)th group of four successive inputted words, following said m+1thgroup of four successive inputted words in the input order, from saidsubregion 1 of said first through fourth predetermined regions; . . .and for reproducing digital signals representing a 2mth group of foursuccessive inputted words in the input order, following a 2m-1th groupof four successive inputted words in the input order, from saidsubregion m-1 of said first through fourth predetermined regions.
 23. Arotary head type magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus as recitedin claim 22, wherein said means for reproducing operates for:reproducinga plurality of k sample addresses 0, 1, . . . , k-1; and for reproducingsubsequent groups of four successive words from a same subregion insubsequent sample addresses of said same subregion of successive ones ofsaid four predetermined regions.
 24. A rotary head type magneticrecording and reproducing apparatus as recited in claim 22, wherein saidnumber of subregions m in each region is defined by

    m>3,

and said number of sample addresses in each said subregion is defined by

    k≧3.


25. A method for recording in a plurality of diagonal tracks on arecording medium an ordered input sequence of words using a rotary headtype magnetic recording apparatus, said words represented by digitalsignals successively input in a unit time, wherein each of said tracksincludes a first region positioned in a longitudinal direction of thetrack at a former half thereof relative to a central portion of thetrack, a second region positioned at a latter half of the track relativeto the central portion thereof, and a redundant data region, comprisingthe steps of:defining a plurality of m subregions from 0 to m-1 in saidfirst region in an arrangement starting from one edge of the track tothe center of the track, defining a plurality of m subregions from 0 tom-1 in said second region in an arrangement starting from the center ofthe track to the other edge thereof, defining said redundant data regionto include redundant data for error correction or error detection of thedigital signals representing words recorded in said first and secondregions on the same track with said redundant data, and recording saiddigital signals such that a plurality of words are arranged in each saidsubregion, said recording step including arranging said digital signalsinput in the unit time to be recorded in first and second tracks, and:recording a first word group on the first region of said first track,said first word group including words having an order of 4n in the inputsequence, where n is an integer 0, 1, 2, . . . , a first word of saidfirst word group having an input order of 0; recording a second wordgroup on the first region of said second track, said second word groupincluding words having an order of 4n+1 in the input sequence; recordinga third word group on the second region of said second track, said thirdword group including words having an order of 4n+2 in the inputsequence; recording a fourth word group on the second region of saidfirst track, said fourth word group including words having an order of4n+3 in the input sequence, in each region, arranging words of each saidrecorded word group on the 0th to m-1th subregions in a common orderingsequence with respect to the input order thereof, and recordingredundant data in said redundant data region for error correction orerror detection of the digital signals representing words recorded onthe same track with said redundant data.
 26. A method for recording anordered sequence of words as recited in claim 25, wherein each track ofsaid recording medium includes a central region located substantially ata central portion thereof, said central region including at least partof said redundant data for error correction or error detection, andwhereinsaid step of recording redundant data comprises recording atleast part of said redundant data on the central region of the sametrack as the words used to generate the redundant data.
 27. A method forrecording an ordered sequence of words as digital signals as recited inclaim 26, wherein said step of arranging comprises recording saiddigital signals representing successively inputted words incorresponding ones of said subregions 0, 1, . . . m-1 of successive onesof first through fourth predetermined regions of a pair of tracks, inaccordance with the input order of the successively inputted wordsrepresented by said digital signals.
 28. A method for recording anordered sequence of words as digital signals as recited in claim 27,wherein said step of arranging further comprises:recording digitalsignals representing a first group of four successive inputted words ofthe input order in said subregion 0 of said first through fourthpredetermined regions, recording digital signals representing a secondgroup of four successive inputted words, following said first group offour successive words of the input order, in said subregion 1 of saidfirst through fourth regions, . . . and recording digital signalsrepresenting an mth group of four successive inputted words, followingan m-1th group of four successive words of the input order, in saidsubregion m-1 of said first through fourth regions.
 29. A method forrecording an ordered sequence of words as digital signals as recited inclaim 28, wherein said step of recording digital signals includes thesteps of:recording digital signals representing an m+1th group of foursuccessive inputted words, following an mth group of four successivewords in the input order, in said subregion 0 of said first throughfourth regions; recording digital signals representing an (m+2)th groupof four successive inputted words, following said m+1th group of foursuccessive words in the input order, in said subregion 1 of said firstthrough fourth regions; . . . and recording a 2mth group of foursuccessive inputted words, following a 2m-1th group of four successiveinputted words in the input order, in said subregion m-1 of said firstthrough fourth regions.
 30. A method for recording an ordered sequenceof words as digital signals as recited in claim 29, wherein said step ofrecording digital signals comprises recording a plurality of k sampleaddresses 0, 1, . . . , k-1; andrecording subsequent groups of foursuccessive words in a same subregion in subsequent sample addresses ofsaid same subregion of successive ones of said four predeterminedregions.
 31. A method for recording an ordered sequence of words asdigital signals as recited in claim 29, wherein said number ofsubregions m in each region is defined by

    m>3,

and said number of sample addresses in each said subregion is defined by

    k≧3.


32. A method for reproducing digital signals by scanning diagonal tracksformed on a recording medium using a rotary head type magneticreproducing apparatus, wherein each of said tracks includes a firstregion positioned in a longitudinal direction of the track at a formerhalf thereof relative to a central portion of the track, a second regionpositioned at a latter half of the track relative to the central portionthereof, and a redundant data region,said first region including aplurality of m subregions ordered from 0 to m-1 in an arrangementstarting from one edge of the track to the center of the track, saidsecond region including m subregions ordered from 0 to m-1 in anarrangement starting from the center of the track to the other edgethereof, and said redundant data region including redundant data forerror correction or error detection of the digital signals representingwords recorded in said first and second regions on the same track withsaid redundant data, a plurality of words being previously recorded ineach subregion, the method comprising: outputting signals from thesubregions in a prescribed order by using said rotary head type magneticreproducing apparatus for reproducing digital signals of a unit timedispersed among respective regions of first and second tracks, saidreproducing step including rearranging said reproduced digital signalsfor outputting an ordered output sequence of words using digital signalsreproduced from said first and second tracks as a unit, said rearrangingstep including reproducing a first word group from the first region ofsaid first track, providing to words in said first word group an orderof 4n in the output sequence, where n is an integer 0, 1, 2, . . . , andproviding to a first word of said first word group an output order of 0;reproducing a second word group from the first region of said secondtrack, providing to words in said second word group an order of 4n+1 inthe output sequence, reproducing a third word group from the secondregion of said second track, providing to words in said third word groupan order of 4n+2 in the output sequence, reproducing a fourth word groupfrom the second region of said first track, providing to words in saidfourth word group an order of 4n+3 in the output sequence, rearrangingeach of the corresponding words from each of said subregions in a commonrearranging and reordering sequence thereby to output said words in saidordered output sequence, and correcting erroneous signals from a trackof the recording medium in accordance with the redundant data recordedon the same track therewith.
 33. A rotary head type magnetic reproducingapparatus as recited in claim 32, wherein each track of said recordingmedium includes a central region located substantially at a centralportion thereof, said central region including at least part of saidredundant data for error correction or error detection, andwhereincomprising the further step of reproducing at least part of saidredundant data from the central region of the same track as the wordsused to generate the redundant data.
 34. A method for reproducingdigital signals as recited in claim 33, wherein said step of rearrangingincludes the step of reproducing said words of said word groups fromcorresponding ones of said subregions 0, 1, . . . m-1 of successive onesof first through fourth predetermined regions of a pair of tracks tooutput said words in said ordered output sequence in accordance with aninput order of successively inputted words represented thereby.
 35. Amethod for reproducing digital signals as recited in claim 34, whereinsaid step of reproducing comprises:reproducing words recorded in saidsubregion 0 of said first through fourth predetermined regions torepresent a first group of four successive inputted words of the inputorder, reproducing words recorded in said subregion 1 of said firstthrough fourth predetermined regions to represent a second group of foursuccessive inputted words following said first group of four successivewords of the input order, . . . and reproducing words recorded in saidsubregion m-1 of said first through fourth predetermined regions torepresent an mth group of four successive inputted words following anm-1th group of four successive words of the input order.
 36. A methodfor reproducing digital signals as recited in claim 35, wherein saidstep of reproducing further comprises:reproducing digital signalsrepresenting an m+1th group of four successive inputted words, followingan mth group of four successive inputted words in the input order, fromsaid subregion 0 of said first through fourth predetermined regions,reproducing digital signals representing an (m+2)th group of foursuccessive inputted words, following said m+1th group of four successiveinputted words in the input order, from said subregion 1 of said firstthrough fourth predetermined regions; . . . and for reproducing digitalsignals representing a 2mth group of four successive inputted words inthe input order, following a 2m-1th group of four successive inputtedwords in the input order, from said subregion m-1 of said first throughfourth predetermined regions.
 37. A method for reproducing digitalsignals as recited in claim 36, wherein said step of reproducing furthercomprises:reproducing a plurality of k sample addresses 0, 1, . . . ,k-1; and reproducing subsequent groups of four successive words from asame subregion in subsequent sample addresses of said same subregion ofsuccessive ones of said four predetermined regions.
 38. A method forreproducing digital signals as recited in claim 36, wherein said numberof subregions m in each region is defined by

    m>3,

and said number of sample addresses in each said subregion is defined by

    k≦3.


39. A magnetic tape wherein magnetic patterns corresponding to digitalsignals are arrayed on a plurality of different tracks, said magnetictape defining a scanning direction substantially perpendicular to atravel direction thereof and including:a record pattern wherein anordered input sequence of words represented by digital signalssuccessively input in a unit time are represented by magnetic wordpatterns arrayed in a plurality of diagonal tracks on the tape, whereineach of said tracks includes a first region positioned in a longitudinaldirection of the track at a former half thereof relative to a centralportion of the track and a second region positioned at a latter half ofthe track relative to the central portion thereof, said first regionincluding a plurality of m subregions ordered from 0 to m-1 in anarrangement starting from one edge of the track to the center of thetrack, and said second region including m subregions ordered from 0 tom-1 in an arrangement starting from the center of the track to the otheredge thereof, wherein a plurality of magnetic word patterns are arrangedin each of said subregions, magnetic word patterns corresponding todigital signals input in the unit time are positioned in first andsecond tracks, a magnetic pattern corresponding to a first word group ispositioned on the first region of said first track, a magnetic wordpattern corresponding to a first word of said first word group having aninput order of 0, said first word group pattern including magnetic wordpatterns corresponding to words having an order of 4n in the inputsequence, where n is an integer 0, 1, 2, . . . , a magnetic patterncorresponding to a second word group is positioned on the first regionof said second track, said second word group pattern including magneticword patterns corresponding to words having an order of 4n+1 in theinput sequence, a magnetic pattern corresponding to a third word groupis positioned on the second region of said second track, said third wordgroup pattern including magnetic word patterns corresponding to wordshaving an order of 4n+2 in the input sequence, and a magnetic patterncorresponding to a fourth word group is positioned on the second regionof said first track, said fourth word group pattern including magneticword patterns corresponding to words having an order of 4n+3 in theinput sequence, in each region, magnetic word patterns of each said wordgroup pattern being arranged on the 0th to m-1th subregions in a commonordering sequence with respect to the input order thereof.
 40. Amagnetic tape wherein magnetic patterns corresponding to digital signalsare arrayed on a plurality of different tracks, said magnetic tapedefining a scanning direction substantially perpendicular to a traveldirection thereof and including:a record pattern wherein an orderedinput sequence of words represented by digital signals successivelyinput in a unit time are represented by magnetic word patterns arrayedin a plurality of diagonal tracks on the tape, wherein each of saidtracks includes a first region positioned in a longitudinal direction ofthe track at a former half thereof relative to a central portion of thetrack, a second region positioned at a latter half of the track relativeto the central portion thereof, and a redundant data region, said firstregion including a plurality of m subregions ordered from 0 to m-1 in anarrangement starting from one edge of the track to the center of thetrack, said second region including m subregions ordered from 0 to m-1in an arrangement starting from the center of the track to the otheredge thereof, and said redundant data region including a redundant datamagnetic pattern for error correction or error detection of the digitalsignals representing words recorded as magnetic word patterns in saidfirst and second regions on the same track with said redundant datamagnetic pattern, wherein a plurality of magnetic word patterns arearranged in each of said subregions, magnetic word patternscorresponding to digital signals input in the unit time are positionedin first and second tracks, a magnetic pattern corresponding to a firstword group is positioned on the first region of said first track, amagnetic word pattern corresponding to a first word of said first wordgroup having an input order of 0, said first word group patternincluding magnetic word patterns corresponding to words having an orderof 4n in the input sequence, where n is an integer 0, 1, 2, . . . , amagnetic pattern corresponding to a second word group is positioned onthe first region of said second track, said second word group patternincluding magnetic word patterns corresponding to words having an orderof 4n+1 in the input sequence, a magnetic pattern corresponding to athird word group is positioned on the second region of said secondtrack, said third word group pattern including magnetic word patternscorresponding to words having an order of 4n+2 in the input sequence,and a magnetic pattern corresponding to a fourth word group ispositioned on the second region of said first track, said fourth wordgroup pattern including magnetic word patterns corresponding to wordshaving an order of 4n+3 in the input sequence, in each region, magneticword patterns of each said word group pattern being arranged on the 0thto m-1th subregions in a common ordering sequence with respect to theinput order thereof.
 41. A magnetic tape as recited in claim 33, whereineach track of said recording medium includes a central region locatedsubstantially at a central portion thereof, said central regionincluding at least part of said redundant data magnetic pattern forerror correction or error detection, and whereinat least part of saidredundant data magnetic pattern is positioned on the central region ofthe same track as the magnetic word patterns used to generate theredundant data.